Oatmeal Banana Bread

1/4 c. shortening
1/4 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. oatmeal (the first time, I used quick-cooking rolled oats, but I was out for the second batch, so I used Coach’s Oats. They worked just fine)
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
3 very ripe bananas
1/4 c. milk

Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a 8½ x 4½” loaf pan with nonstick spray.

Cream together the shortening, butter, and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until fluffy.

In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.

In a ziplock bag, mash the bananas until uniform. Add the milk and mush it into the bananas.

Add half the dry ingredients to the sugar and butter mixture, scrape the bowl, and then add half the banana mixture. Repeat. Mix gently until blended.

Pour into the pan, and bake for 50-60 minutes until a butter knife inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean. Ish. You may get some banana on it, but no batter.

Remove it from the oven and cover the pan with aluminum foil for 5-10 minutes. Remove the loaf from the pan and serve hot or let it cool down.

You can add raisins, walnuts, or dried blueberries – just fold them in just before you pour the batter into the pan.

Makes 1 loaf.

Spiced Pecans

These are spicy, but not HOT. Very, very yummy.

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
2 teaspoons ground cumin
3/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
2 (12-ounce) packages,
(8 cups) pecan halves
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Melt butter in a large saucepan; stir in cumin and red pepper, and cook 1 minute. Remove from heat; add pecans, sugar, and salt, stirring to coat. Spread pecans in a single layer in 2 (15 x 10-inch) jellyroll pans. Bake at 300° for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool and store in an airtight container. Makes 8 cups.

Microwave Spiced Pecans

These are the sweet ones. Mmmm…

1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons water
3 cups pecan halves

Directions:

Melt butter in a 4 quart glass casserole dish in the microwave. Stir in the brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon and water. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Stir in the nuts so they are well coated. Microwave for 4 to 5 additional minutes on high, stirring every minute. Spread cooked nuts out onto parchment or waxed paper to cool. Makes 3 cups.